Removing Western influence

To remove Western Influence, the Japanese promoted the Japanese spirit ( Nippon Seishin ). Every school, government building and Japanese company began with a morning assembly. Those present at such gathering had to stand facing the direction of Japan and sing the Japanese national anthem(Kimigayo). Taisho or mass drills were made compulsory for students, teachers, staff of companies and government servants. Teachers had to learn Japanese several times a week. The students received their daily Japanese lessons on the schools' broadcasting service.

Listen to the Japanese National Anthem : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29FFHC2D12Q

The Japanese also used other ways to influence the minds of the people in Singapore. Radio stations were controlled by the Japanese and the people could only listen to local braodcast. Those caught tuning in to foreign broadcasting stations were severely punished or killed. IN the cinemas, only Japanese movies and propaganda films were shown.

Before the actual movie, they had a sort of propaganda film- 'Asia is for Asians'. And then they showed you newsreels of Japanese military forces in action. ALl this while, the Japanese would be showing you they were winning everywhere. For certain parts, they would show you the friendliness between the military and the civilians. After the propaganda film, they would show you the main picture.
-Adapted from an oral history account in The Japanese Occupation 1942-1945 by Tan Beng Luan and Irene Quah.

Information taken from : Marshall Cavendish Education (2007). SINGAPORE FROM SETTLEMENT TO NATION PRE-1819 TO 1971. Singapore. MOE Building